Wilmington, NC

The lovely city of Wilmington, North Carolina has been included on The National Trust for Historic Preservation "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" list for good reason. The nearly 300-block historical area of Wilmington is a monument to the rich history of the port city, which has been incorporated since 1739. Bordered by the Cape Fear River to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, its natural beauty adds to its appeal for retirees, vacationers, and film makers (the area boasts one of the largest studios outside of Hollywood). In Wilmington, the living is easy - with beach houses within a few minutes of downtown and so much to see and do, it's no surprise the area has become increasingly popular among those looking to retire or relocate in the Southeast region.

More Wilmington Information

Economy

Wilmington is part of North Carolina's "Research Coast," an offshoot of the Research Triangle Park in Raleigh, North Carolina. Due in large part to the mix of major employers located in Wilmington, the city and New Hanover County are on solid financial footing. The area's largest employers include New Hanover Regional Medical Center, New Hanover County Schools, General Electric, the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and PPD, Inc, which provides discovery and development services to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Also important to Wilmington's economy is tourism due to its close proximity to the ocean and its vibrant nightlife.

Property taxes for those living in the city are in the vicinity of 33-cents per $100 of valuation, and New Hanover County's property tax rate in 2009 was less than 46 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The sales tax rate includes a 4.25% state tax and 2.5% county tax.

Health Care

New Hanover Regional Medical Center is a not-for-profit health care system, with several facilities in Wilmington. Its main facility is a 600+ bed teaching hospital with a Level 2 Trauma Center - one of only 10 trauma centers in North Carolina certified at that level. Its specialty services include four adult intensive care units, cardiac surgery, and a vascular operating room. The health system also operates the 133-bed Cape Fear Hospital in Wilmington, which has inpatient and outpatient surgery, respiratory therapy, diagnostic and imaging services including MRI and CT scan, lab services and a 24-hour emergency department.

Cape Fear's Orthopedic Specialty Center features trained nurses, technicians and surgeons who are board-certified or eligible in orthopedic surgery. Other Wilmington sites owned by the network include a women's and children's hospital, and rehabilitation and behavioral health hospitals. In addition, Miller-Motte College has a Dental Center in Wilmington, with students supplementing the trained staff, and offering resident's prevention, restoration and cosmetic services at reduced rates.

Sports

Sports fans enjoy year-round options in the Wilmington community. On the professional or semi-pro level, the Wilmington Sharks, a summer collegiate baseball team certified by Minor League Baseball, play their home games at Buck Hardee Field at Legion Stadium in Wilmington. The Wilmington Sea Dawgs, members of the Premier Basketball League, play home games at Cape Fear Community College's Joe and Barbara Schwartz Center. The Wilmington Hammerheads, a professional soccer team, plays at Legion Stadium. The Wilmington Tigers, a not-for-profit member of the Mason-Dixon Football League, also calls Legion Stadium home.

The Cape Fear Rugby Club, a member of USA Rugby South Division II, own their own rugby pitch, and host the annual Cape Fear Sevens Tournament over the 4th of July weekend, bringing teams from all over the world.

On the collegiate level, The University of North Carolina-Wilmington's Seahawks include men's and women's basketball and men's softball and volleyball. Cape Fear Community College's Sea Devils feature basketball, volleyball and soccer.

Fans can also drive to Raleigh to watch the National Hockey League's Hurricanes, about two hours to the northwest of Wilmington. Charlotte, North Carolina, about a four-hour drive, is home to the National Football League's Carolina Panthers and the NBA's Bobcats.

Shopping

The Wilmington community offers a wide variety of shopping options and the first place to start is in Wilmington's downtown historic district, where every block features galleries, boutiques and specialty shops. One unique shopping complex is the Cotton Exchange, featuring 24 unique shops and four restaurants. Streets along the riverfront are a haven for those looking for antiques, crafts and artwork. Also downtown is the Riverfront Farmers Market, where local farmers and artisans set up curbside from April through December. Close by, Mayfaire Town Center and Independence Mall offer national brands and specialty stores. And, from Wrightsville Beach to Kure Beach along the coast, there are even more galleries and specialty shops, offering everything from original art to wetsuits. About 30 miles south of Wilmington along the coast is the small town of Holden Beach, which also has quaint shops and places to get a great lunch.

Getting There

By Air: Wilmington has its own airport just a few miles from downtown. Wilmington International Airport is serviced by Allegiant, Delta Connection and US Airways, which have non-stop flights to five major cities and connecting service to many other cities. Wilmington International also has fixed base operators providing aircraft maintenance and cleaning, fueling, hanger service and tie-downs.

By Car: Wilmington is just about mid-way between New York City and Jacksonville, Florida, making it accessible from Interstate 95 in either direction. Interstate 40 is the "gateway" highway to Wilmington and the Cape Fear Coast. More scenic approaches are U.S. Highway 17 and U.S. Highway 74.

Higher Education

Wilmington is home to a number of higher education institutions.

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington offers its more than 13,000 students 52 bachelor's degrees, 35 master's degrees, a Ph.D. in marine biology and a doctorate in education for educational leadership and administration. UNCW received its highest regional ranking ever in U.S. News & World Report's 2011 "America's Best College Guide," ranking fifth among public master's institutions in the South and thirteenth of 118 public and private universities in the South that provide a full range of undergraduate and master's level programs. UNCW was also among the top 20 on Forbes' 2010 list of "America's Best College Buys," and in the top 3 in the state in Kiplinger's 2011 "Best Value Public Colleges." UNCW is one of 118 colleges nationwide participating in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Cape Fear Community College has its main campus in Wilmington. In addition to its college transfer, technical and vocational programs awarding associate degrees and certificates, it also offers leisure classes such as aviation ground school, celestial navigation, cake decorating, sewing, painting and quilt making among others.

Mount Olive College of Wilmington is a private liberal arts college offering programs in criminal justice, early childhood development and health care management.

Golf

There are a number of very good golf courses in the Wilmington area including:

The Masonboro Country Club, which is considered a world-class premium public golf course. Redesigned by architect Bob Moore, it has five sets of tees, a driving range, a short game area and a putting green.

The Wilmington Municipal Golf Course (18 holes; par 71) was designed by Donald Ross, and is host to both men's and women's city championships.

The Porters Neck Country Club, an 18-hole par 72 course designed by Tom Fazio, was given 4 stars by Golf Digest.

Beau Rivage Resort & Golf Club and Echo Farms Golf & Country Club, both south of Wilmington, are both 18-hole, par 72 courses.

Arts & Entertainment

Wilmington and nearby areas offer a wealth of performing, visual and historic venues. Since 1858, the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts has been in continuous operation, and now hosts about 250 events annually. Adult and children's theater, music, comedic acts and dance are presented in its three venues: the Main Stage, the Grand Ballroom, and the Studio Theater.

The 1,016-seat Kenan Memorial Auditorium stadium at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington is the largest performing arts venue in the community. Its calendar includes symphony, dance, and theater as well as a wide range of acclaimed performers. Also, the university's state-of-the-art, $34 million Cultural Arts Building includes a music recital hall, art gallery, and two theaters featuring four theatrical productions a year.

And for year-round, live theater, the Cape Fear Playhouse is home to Big Dawg Productions. Part of the Newcastle Art & Antiques District in downtown Wilmington, its season runs from January to November. Other theater venues include The Red Barn Studio Theatre, a 50-seat black box theatre with a theatrical library. Level 5 at City Stage is a downtown rooftop venue that presents contemporary plays and musicals.

Music lovers have a lot of variety and venues to enjoy. "Music at Airlie Gardens," held on Friday nights, is where audience members can enjoy jazz and classical and bring a picnic. The lawn at Mayfaire Center also has Friday concerts featuring rock, country and blues music. The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, established in 1971, offers a series of five classical performances annually, as well as a free family concert. Although a rich historic city, the Wilmington community also has a "new" music scene. And you may find it interesting to watch Carolina shag dancing enthusiasts as they take a spin on the floor at various dance spots around town.

Historic Wilmington estates and plantations are numerous. The Burgwin-Wright Museum House & Gardens features Georgian style architecture, 18th and early 19th century furnishings and stories of the people who have lived in this house. Not too far from Burgwin-Wright is the Latimer House Museum, which has 14 rooms containing more than 600 historic objects from the Victorian period. The Poplar Grove Foundation preserves the homestead of a successful farming family, and the outbuildings and crafts typical of an 1800s era working community.

The Wilmington Railroad Museum traces the development of railroads in the Wilmington area as well as the careers of famous people involved in its history, such as Thomas Edison and George Pullman. It also has more than 20 operating scale model trains, spectacular model layouts, and a life-size caboose, boxcar, and 100-year-old steam locomotive.

Not to be missed is the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, the oldest history museum in North Carolina. It displays more than 50,000 artifacts and images relevant to the history, science and cultures of the region.

Nearby, the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History is housed in the turn of the century Myers Cottage, and contains information about the interaction between the people and the environment that have shaped the 100-year history of Wrightsville Beach.

Events

Throughout the year, Wilmington is host to festivals, films, music, food and fun.

One event high on every newcomer's list is the annual Intercultural Week, held each February by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The week features films, art exhibits, live performances, workshops, panel discussions and lectures. All events are free unless otherwise noted.

For three nights in February, there's the North Carolina Jazz festival.

Also in February is the Cameron Art Museum's annual reenactment of the Civil War's Battle of Forks Road, which took place on the site of the museum. The day also includes infantry and artillery demonstrations, artisan's demonstrations, family art activities, and more.

In March, the Wilmington Garden Show is held at Cape Fear Community College's Schwartz Center, with products and services for gardening and landscaping.

April brings the Azalea Festival, a four-day celebration of spring that includes a parade, concerts, garden tours and an art show.

One of the largest DIY festivals, the Wilmington Exchange Festival, occurs over a period of five days around Memorial Day each year.

The Airlie Garden's Concert Series runs from May through October, featuring jazz musicians every first Friday evening.

The Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues and Jazz Festival takes center stage in October. Other October festivals include the Riverfest Street Fair in downtown Wilmington featuring arts and crafts, antiques cars and sporting events.

November includes the nationally recognized independent film festival "Cucalorus."

The holiday season is celebrated with Old Wilmington by Candlelight. The event includes a tour of several private homes, churches and historical sites throughout downtown Wilmington.

Attractions

In most regions of the country, "attractions" would be defined as amusement parks, theme parks and other expensive venues. But Wilmington and the nearby beaches have a long list of places to visit that are budget-friendly or even free.

The USS North Carolina is a 45,000-ton battleship open for daily tour located on Eagles Island, across the Cape Fear River. The retired ship is a memorial to the 10,000 North Carolinians who lost their lives during World War II.

Head down along the beaches, south of Kure Beach, to Fort Fisher, which was built to defend Wilmington during the Civil War and to allow supplies to be moved inland for the Confederate troops. Today, only a small portion of the fort remains but you can tour the grounds and see the exhibits and monuments.

The North Carolina Aquarium is just beyond Kure Beach and features alligators, sea turtles, stingrays and clownfish, and even a shipwreck.

To catch a glimpse of the region's cinematic importance, visit the EUE/Screen Gems in Wilmington. Daily tours are available to what is billed as "the largest motion picture studio outside of Hollywood." You can view sets from past and current productions.

The Children's Museum of Wilmington offers interactive exhibits and daily programs to help every visitor better understand the arts, sciences and local culture.

The Tregembo Animal Park is Eastern Carolina's oldest zoo, with over 10 acres with more than 95 animals from around the world.

The Cape Fear Serpentarium in Wilmington features more than 100 species of snakes, many of them deadly (and protected from the public!). Reptiles of every continent are represented and living in lush dioramas.

The New Hanover County Arboretum in Wilmington has almost seven acres of educational gardens, including a water garden with colorful Koi and lilies, a Japanese Garden with an authentic tea house and numerous Japanese maples, a children's cottage with fantasy characters painted inside, and a rose garden.

Family fun centers include: Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park, a water park featuring slides, pools, go-carts and video games; and Monkey Joe's, where kids can jump, slide and enjoy the indoor playground.

You can also take a horse-drawn trolley or carriage tour of downtown Wilmington, where you'll be escorted by a driver wearing 19th-century garb.

Parks & Recreation

Wilmington is home to a number of recreational facilities that offer diverse outdoor activities.

Halyburton Memorial Park in Wilmington is a 58-acre nature preserve. The park offers a 1.5-mile walking and biking trail, picnic shelters, playground and a unique environmental education and events center.

The 0.7-mile Summer Rest Trail near Wrightsville Beach is a favorite for locals looking to limber up near the water. The trail can be accessed from Eastwood Road or from Summer Rest Road, where the trail ends at the Intracoastal Waterway.

Greenfield Park & Gardens is another magnet for locals. A 5-mile scenic drive surrounds the 250-acre city park. It features a lake, 20 acres of gardens, a nature trail and a walking/biking trail looped through dense cypress swamp. Also available is a skate park, canoe and paddleboat rentals, as well as nature tours and environmental classes, available through Cape Fear Riverwatch.

The Hugh MacRae Nature Trail, near the New Hanover County Department of Aging, provides walkers with several trails that wind through pine forest, fern thickets and across a cypress-lined pond.

Wrightsville Beach, just a few miles from Wilmington, offers a long list of water sports, but bird-watchers and nature lovers might want to put the Mason Inlet Water Bird Management Area on their must-see lists.

Off the coast, from Wrightsville Beach south to Kure Beach, scuba divers head for the number of submerged wrecks found in the Atlantic, some dating as far back as the Civil War.

Marinas and boat docks along the coast and in the heart of Wilmington are almost as plentiful as the variety of fish. For a day-trip, head three miles offshore to the islands of Cape Lookout National Seashore. Visitors can enjoy remote beaches, view wild horses and other wildlife, or visit one of the historic districts. You can also visit the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, a 207-step climb equal to climbing a 12-story building.

Greenfield Grind Skate Park in Wilmington is an impressive facility that spans over 9,000 square feet consisting of a banked street course and a variety of hips, rails, and ledges.

The Wilmington Ice House is a 30,000 square foot ice-skating and recreation center with an NHL regulation-sized ice surface.

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